University of Louisville
NORTH CAROLINA
Cards Top Tar Heels 6-1 in Home Finale
April 28, 2019 | Softball
Watson solid in the circle, Melton ties UofL's single-season record for stolen bases
Sophomore Kyra Snyder drove in a pair of runs while redshirt senior Sidney Melton scored twice and added a stolen base to back a solid effort from sophomore Danielle Watson (11-12) who allowed one run and scattered five hits while striking out four in seven innings.
 The Cardinals (33-17, 12-9 ACC) will return to action next weekend when the travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on NC State in the final ACC series of the season.
 UofL jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first when Melton ripped a double down the left field line, senior Megan Hensley walked and redshirt freshman Taylor Roby reached on an error to load the bases for Snyder's two-run single. Snyder was lifted for pinch-runner Paige Schindler, who proceeded to steal second. Freshman Rebecca Chung singled to load the bases for sophomore Jordyn Wolfe who walked to plate Roby. Fack-to-back RBI hits by sophomore Maddy Newman and junior Celene Funke capped the first inning scoring.
Louisville tacked on another run in the fourth when Melton singled and stole second to notch her 28th stolen bases of the season and move into a tie for first in the program's single-season record book. Hensley's single put runners on the corners for Roby's RBI groundout which brought the score to 6-0.
 Watson and the Cardinals' defense held the Tar Heels (33-17, 17-7) in check, retiring 10 straight batters after giving up a hit to Laura Murray in the first inning. Brittany Pickett connected on a double in the fourth, but North Carolina would get no closer until the seventh inning when Zoe Goodman's RBI two-out hit plated Megan Dray who had led off the frame with a double. Â
 Pickett (19-10) took the loss after giving up six runs, three earned, on eight hits and striking out eight in 6.0 innings.
 "This was a good win for us," said UofL head coach Holly Aprile. "We needed to get the win, and we found a way. Danielle was really instrumental in that on the mound. She did a great job and I'm really proud of her. I thought we played good defense as well, and to attack in that first inning was good."Â
Notes following Sunday's North Carolina game:
• North Carolina leads the series 8-7
• As a team, Louisville has registered a program-record 93 stolen bases on 107 attempts on the season. The previous record was 68 (95 attempts), set in the 2010 season
• Louisville finishes the 2019 season with a 16-5 record at Ulmer Stadium.
Player Notes
• Sidney Melton has reached safely in the last 14 games
• Melton also leads the team with a career-high 28 stolen bases and stands tied for first with Coleen Coughlin (2000) on Louisville's single season list.
• She now has 61 stolen bases in her career, placing her tied for second with Jennifer Esteban (2010-12). Audrey Rendon (2004-07) holds the record with 82.
• Melton now has 150 career runs and stands in fifth place on Louisville's all-time list. She needs eight more to move into a tie for fourth with Audrey Rendon (2004-07).
• Megan Hensley earned her 60th career walk and stands at No. 10 on UofL's all-time list.
• Kyra Snyder has reached safely in 11 straight games.
• Melton leads the team with a .347 batting average and 28 stolen bases.
• Hensley leads the team with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs.
• Watson has recorded a team-best 145 strikeouts.
